Posted in Logo Studies on Jan 21st, 2010
All comics images and logos © DC Comics, Inc.
One of the tasks of a DC Production Department staffer in the 1970s was to put together covers. This meant pasting photostats of the logos and trade dress onto the art, and adding any cover lettering that might be needed. In the case of a tryout book [...]
Posted in Logo Studies on Jan 20th, 2010
All images © DC Comics, Inc.
For some of the logos I’m covering in this study I had to check with John himself to be sure he designed them, but there was never any question with this one. I can’t say why exactly, but the shapes of the letters on the top line, and the way [...]
Posted in Logo Studies on Jan 19th, 2010
John Schwirian, left gives John Workman, right, his 2009 Harvey Award for best lettering.
I’m doing a different sort of Logo Study this time, focusing on one designer, my friend and fellow letterer John Workman. From the summer of 1975 until late 1977 John worked on staff in the DC Comics Production Department, and as part [...]
Posted in Logo Studies on Jan 18th, 2010
Image © DC Comics.
…a new logo study in three parts. This time, instead of focusing on a particular character or book title, it will cover DC logos by one designer, John Workman.
Posted in Logo Studies on Dec 18th, 2009
All images © DC Comics, Inc.
Wrapping up this logo study, in 1997 the comic above was published adapting a story from a cartoon show featuring Superman and Batman together, so the title seems appropriate. I’m not sure, but I think the logo design comes from the cartoon. I know this version of the words BATMAN [...]
Posted in Logo Studies on Dec 17th, 2009
All images © DC Comics, Inc. except as noted.
While the monthly WORLD’S FINEST comic ended its long run in 1986, the concept of the book, usually as a place to team up Superman and Batman, stayed alive in various mini-series and one-shots. The first was this one, a terrific three-issue series written by Dave Gibbons, [...]
Posted in Logo Studies on Dec 16th, 2009
All images © DC Comics, Inc.
With issue 198 in 1970 this new trade dress (the logo and type area at the top of the cover) began. Until now, WORLD’S FINEST had always featured Superman with Batman (and sometimes Robin), but another DC title, THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD had become a Batman team-up book, and [...]
Posted in Logo Studies on Dec 15th, 2009
All images © DC Comics, Inc.
In the 1950s, with superhero comics selling less well, DC decided to change the format of WORLD’S FINEST from a 96-page anthology to the length of a regular comic (generally 32 pages) and reduce the price to 10 cents, like most of their line. While this left out many of [...]
Posted in Logo Studies on Dec 14th, 2009
Images © DC Comics, except as noted.
The story of one of DC Comic’s longest running titles begins with this book, released in April of 1939. The event it celebrated received massive attention and pre-publicity prior to its opening on April 30th of that year, and opening day was attended by over 200,000 people. It was [...]
Posted in Logo Studies on Dec 13th, 2009
Image © DC Comics, Inc.